# Waste Energy The idea of upcycling infiltrates alternative energy. By [Armida Ascano](https://www.trendhunter.com/Armida), Chief Insights Officer | Published May 25, 2016 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/waste-energy ## Key Figures - Trend score: 2.6/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Waste Energy trend? **Waste Energy:** Upcycling has gained popularity in industries such as food service and fashion, creating more urgency around the ongoing attempt to turn waste into energy. Progress made in this area explores everything from human waste to environmentally unfriendly refuse, the latter providing an overlapping attempt at sustainability that aligns perfectly with today's increasingly green consumer. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Feb 23, 2016 to Feb 25, 2017 - Published: May 25, 2016 - Patterns: [Cyclicality](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/cyclicality), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Naturality](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/naturality), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Themes within the Waste Energy trend ### Upcycling The increasing popularity of upcycling has created urgency around turning waste into energy and exploring unconventional sources like discarded and rotten materials, which could pave the way for new green energy initiatives. ### Microbial Fuel Cells The development and implementation of microbial fuel cells that use bacteria from organic sources such as urine or bacteria to provoke chemical reactions that produce electricity shows potential for driving future advancements in the clean energy industry. ### Biomethane Fuel The use of biomethane fuel as a renewable and more affordable food waste energy source in transportation vehicles has the potential to replace traditional diesel fuels and reduce pollution while increasing vehicle efficiency. ## What the Waste Energy trend means for industry ### For Green Energy Green energy companies could leverage these trends to address gaps in today's upcycling and organic energy market by capitalizing nature's organic mechanisms for efficient energy storage and extraction. ### For Transportation Automotive companies and transportation logistics businesses can reduce waste and carbon footprint by adopting biomethane fuel in powering delivery trucks and vehicles with the added benefit of expanded coverage range. ### For Battery Technology Technology companies can use the principles of microbial fuel cells to research new eco-friendly ways of battery power generation, opening the door to longer-lasting batteries that can use organic sources like bacteria, urine, and organic waste. ## Workshop question What consumer values can you emphasize as part of your brand's identity? ## Trend signals for Waste Energy Trend score 2.6 out of 10, from popularity 42%, activity 29%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 42% - Activity: 29% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Waste Energy trend 4 featured examples from Feb 23, 2016 to Feb 25, 2017. - [Pee-Powered Batteries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microbial-fuel-cell): This Microbial Fuel Cell is Powered By Bacteria From Human Urine (Category: Tech) Implication: The renewable energy industry can benefit from developing and implementing microbial fuel cells. - [Rotten Apple-Powered Batteries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sodiumion-batteries): These Sodium-Ion Batteries Feature Carbon Drawn From Rotten Apples (Category: Tech) Implication: The sodium-ion battery technology developed from repurposed waste has potential applications in grid power storage, highlighting a potential opportunity for disruptive innovation… - [Food Waste Delivery Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/delivery-trucks): Sustainable Waitrose Grocery-Delivering Trucks Run on Biomethane (Category: Eco) Implication: Supermarkets can explore the use of biomethane-powered delivery trucks to improve their sustainability efforts and reduce pollution. - [Bacteria-Boosted Batteries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/experimental-battery): This Experimental Battery Uses Bacteria to Recharge Itself (Category: Tech) Implication: The energy storage industry can leverage bacteria-based batteries to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and lifespan of batteries. ## Recent trend clusters - [Delegated Interfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/delegated-interfaces) (Tech) - [Adaptive Controls](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/adaptive-controls) (Tech) - [Desk Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/desk-systems) (Tech) - [Spatial Refinement](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/spatial-refinement) (Tech) ## Trending in Tech - [Decor-Led Home Projectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decor-led-home-projectors) - [Accessible Fintech Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chequing-account) - [Dual-Wavelength Recovery Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joint-therapy) - [Pop-Culture WiFi Routers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pop-culture-wifi-routers) All articles: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech)